- Oct 21, 2003
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Steve, Joey isn't right, as his theory assumes that someone who is educated, intelligent (in a general and footballing way) and who has played and watched football at various levels (UK, European & world) for many years is somehow less qualified to on occasion make a better tactical judgement than someone who wasn't particularly well educated (your average footballer), isn't particularly intelligent (your average footballer turned manager) who has probably watched football only slightly more than you have.
We are not talking coaching per se. Something which many managers don't have a great deal to do with anyway these days. We are talking here about tactics. Tactics isn't just substitutions, it's the utilisation of personnel to achieve the best outcome.
But in answer to your question I would have taken off the very ineffectual Defoe and the tiring (but who played well) Crouch and replaced them with Gudjohnsen and Kranjcar. I would have pushed Modric up to play with Gudjohnsen and put Kranjcar out on the left.
Villa were soaking up our ariel bombardment and our CM's were always mindful of not being caught on the break (and both rarely get into the oppositions box anyway), so what we needed to do instead of the predictable pattern that was emerging of us either trying to hit Crouch or getting as far as the 18 yard box and shooting was to carve open a proper chance where a defender couldn't fling himself in the way.
The substitution and use of, I am suggesting, wouldn't have changed our overall formation or our ability to contain Villa's break threat. It would have put two more intelligent thinkers and users of the ball up front that (along with Kranjcar) may have interacted better and more intelligently to break down a stubborn Villa defence.
And as my last pice of evidence against Joey's theory I call as a witness Dave Bassett.
Intelligence has nothing to do with it. I reckon I could beat most managers or footballers in an IQ test as could many others on here. We're talking about living and breathing something from a very young age through to a ripe old age and having the abilty/skill set to do it. We've all mostly played and watched footy since we were kids but we haven't lived and breathed it in the same way a pro has. The experience of playing under great managers, all those training sessions, playing and managing great players the whole nuts and bolts of being involved in a professional football club from top to bottom we just do not have.
I appreciate your suggestion and it's possible it may have worked but it's also more probable that it wouldn't. Players take time to get into games so you lose at least 5 minutes usually whilst they adjust to the tempo - substitute BOTH strikers and it's a double whammy. Add to that the usual last 15 minutes backs to the wall scenario where the defending team, under pressure, defend very deep, usually retreating into their own box with the midfield 4/5 sitting on the edge and even the striker(s) making sure they are behind the ball (which is what Villa did). The result is the ball either goes high into the box, is crossed from around the sides or long shots from outside the box rain in. I've seen better teams than us do it including Man Yoo and even Arsenal when they need a breakthrough at the end of games.
So leaving Crouch on was essential I think, Defoe's sharpish in the box was important too although him coming off may have been more reasonable (although he did win us a pen even if the ref didn't give it). There was just virtually no space for tippy tappy football in and around the box because there was 9/10 players camped there not giving us the room - so we bombard them instead. Only some top drawer defending from Villa kept us out it must be remembered and as I said before they have the meanest defence and are not a mug side like Hull/Wolves etc.
As for last night I think he made too many changes in one game. Palacios is essential given Jenas' fall from grace (probably the worst I've seen him) and Huddlestone becoming less and less effective as the season plays out. Charlie and Crouch I would've rested on Sunday instead. Kranky for Modders I don't mind although I prefer Modric obviously and have concerns about Kranky away from home as I think his bottle goes a bit (Liverpool and Leeds spring to mind).
The whole point is that of course we can question or criticise tactics but I would prefer it if people really considered every aspect of being a manager before they become too convinced that they are right and Redknapp is wrong. I think calling him to task over the Villa game is not the game to do it on but because it really isn't that clear cut. They all make mistakes (as do we all) but the teams at the top DO usually have the best players and give us back Carrick and Berbatov and we'd be in a 4 horse race for the title not for 4th place (or 6th as it may be now).